NATIONAL BRIEFING / NEW YORK
The man who ran an escort business at the heart of the scandal that helped bring down former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer was sentenced Friday to 2 1/2 years in prison.
Mark Brener, 63, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit a prostitution offense and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
“I want to apologize to this court, my family and anyone else I have hurt as a result of my actions,” Brener said at the hearing. “I am sorry.”
Prosecutors said he was the “driving force” behind the Emperors Club VIP, a lucrative prostitution enterprise.
His customers included Spitzer, who resigned after details of a tryst with one of Brener’s prostitutes in a Washington hotel were revealed.
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